English Language and Literature at Georgetown University

Georgetown's English program stands in sharp contrast to the typical humanities narrative. While English majors nationally struggle with median earnings below $30,000, Georgetown graduates earn $52,122 in their first year—placing them in the 95th percentile nationwide and nearly double the national median for this degree. That's a Georgetown premium worth quantifying: roughly $22,000 more per year than the typical English graduate makes.

The debt picture reinforces this advantage. At $16,500, Georgetown's English majors borrow about a third less than the national median for the program, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.32. Compare that favorable math to many programs where graduates owe more than they'll earn in their first year. Within DC, this program ranks in the 60th percentile—solid positioning considering it's competing against other selective institutions in a city where political and nonprofit communications roles pay relatively well.

The 13% admission rate matters here: Georgetown's brand and network are doing real work in the job market, converting an English degree into access to consulting, government affairs, and communications roles that typically require more vocational credentials elsewhere. For families who can afford Georgetown's overall cost structure, this program delivers unusually strong outcomes for a liberal arts degree. The moderate sample size suggests these results reflect actual placement patterns, not statistical noise.